Calvert wins in Madrid, 'Safa in action today

Leighton Levy, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Jamaica's Schillonie Calvert raced to a solid win in the women's 100-metre dash at the IAAF World Challenge meet in Madrid, Spain, yesterday.

Calvert, who represents the Racers Track Club, won in 11.23 seconds running against a stiff headwind of -2.3 metres per second ahead of the United States pair of Barbara Pierre 11.28 and Tainan Madison 11.30.

Calvert had the fastest time of 11.27 in the second of two qualifying heats.

In the men's equivalent, Kimmari Roach finished fourth in 10.21 behind winner, American Justin Gatlin (10.10), Britain's Dwayne Chambers 10.13 and another America, Travis Padgett 10.18. The race was run into a headwind of -1.6 metres per second.

Meanwhile, some of Jamaica's more celebrated athletes will be on track today in Birmingham, England, at the Aviva Grand Prix Diamond League meet. Chief among them is a confident former world-record holder, Asafa Powell, who ran a world-leading 9.78 in Lausanne, Switzerland, last week.

Powell will race over the 100m against a field that includes seven other men who have run faster than 10 seconds.

On current form, Powell's main rivals will be very familiar foes. MVP teammates Michael Frater, who ran a personal-best 9.88 in Lausanne, and Nesta Carter (9.92) lead a pack of rivals that also includes Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson and Norway's Jaysuma Ndure Saidy, who has run 9.99 this season.

Novlene Williams-Mills, who has the second-fastest time in the world this year for 400m, 50.05, is set to take on countrywoman Rosemarie Whyte, Sanya Richards Ross and Amantle Montsho, Debbie Dunn and the fast-rising Francena McCorory over the 400 metres.

In the women's 200 metres, the steadily improving Kerron Stewart will test her speed and mettle against Carmelita Jeter, the fastest woman in the world in the 100m this year (10.70) and has the second-fastest time (22.23), a personal best, over the half-lap event so far this season. Stewart, who was third in 11.04 over the 100m in Paris on Friday, will also be battling the likes of Bahamian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, American Marshavet Myers and Bulgarian speed queen Ivet Lalova -22.56 this season.

Vonette Dixon and Delloreen Ennis-London will carry the Jamaican flag in the women's 100m hurdles.